BARE ESSENTIALS YOUTH THEATRE
Bare Essentals Youth Theatre was founded by Carran Waterfield and
the core members of Cardinal Wiseman School drama club in 1988.
During its twelve year history the company gained an international
reputation for its work.

Unlike most youth theatres the company was not attached to a repertory
theatre or established arts centre group. Neither did it function
with a large membership. The young people preferred to work as a
tight-knit ensemble, recruiting new members gradually. The group
was independent, working in an arm's length relationship with Carran
Waterfield, the company's artistic director for ten years. During
that time the company created seven theatre works, three of which
toured to Russia and Denmark.

In 1995 the company became theatre in residence within the Institute
of Education at the University of Warwick contributing to the research
in Drama in Education there. Their work was of particular interest
to Dr Jonathan Neelands, Dr Jo Winston and Jo Trowsdale. In 1998
the company became a key focus for an international research project
within the Institute performing for teachers and researchers from
Italy and France.

Between 1998 and 2000, the company was overseen by the Coventry
Theatre Network project creating two new works under the guidance
of Tracie Rowlands of Pathways Theatre.

In 2000, the company disbanded, most of its membership having gone
onto further work within the performing arts or having outgrown the group.

Bare Essentials has seeded various groups including Cosmino Theatre.

Original members have worked in such diverse places as Poland and
Brazil. Some of the members work within the arts in some capacity.

This innovative and unusual band of young people have left a legacy
of unique theatre work created and performed for and by young people.
Their archive including video footage and interviews are held within
Coventry City Arts and Heritage Archives.

VIDEO ARCHIVE
Journey with the Bare Essentials 2001 - a film by Carran Waterfield